cannabisnews.com: Canadians Harvesting Hemp!





Canadians Harvesting Hemp!
Posted by FoM on August 18, 1999 at 14:35:35 PT
Outlawed In U.S. Due To Marijuana Similarities
Source: CBS News
(CBS) It’s harvest time in southwestern Ontario, reports CBS News Correspondent Drew Levinson. That’s not unusual, but the crop growing there is. One local farmer said, "It looks like marijuana, smells like marijuana, but technically it’s not."
Area farmers grow industrial hemp. Like pot, it comes from the cannabis plant. But it’s missing THC, the chemical that makes people high. Still because of the similarities, it’s been outlawed in the United States for a half century. Since the Canadian government started allowing hemp to be produced legally last year, farmers have planted about 6,000 acres. Some claim a profit of about $200 an acre. This comes at a time when growers are having a tough time breaking even on other crops. "With the cost of crop inputs going up, everybody’s looking for alternate crops," said a local farmer. "And this is one of them." Among other things, hemp is used in beauty products, clothing and carpeting. "The renewed interest in natural fibers has brought many companies to look at hemp again because of its unique characteristics: very strong and durable," said Hempline president Geofrey Kime. Some states have passed bills to end the ban on industrial hemp. And a test site in Hawaii is awaiting approval from the federal government. For Kentucky farmer Donnie Colter, hemp would be a financial shot in the arm. "We’re just looking for another crop," said Colter. "If they sell my tobacco crop out, what am I going to do?" Though hemp is now grown legally in about 30 countries, the U.S.D.A. calls it a novelty product for a novelty market. Still, many U.S. farmers would like to get in the game. ONTARIO, CanadaWednesday, August 18,1999 - 04:34 PM ET Copyright 1999, CBS Worldwide Inc. http://www.cbs.com/flat/story_177528.html
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 18, 1999 at 17:20:42 PT:
Related Article
Click the link to read the artcle.
Bumper Hemp Crop Expected!
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